Tustumena Elementary Newsletter
August 17, 2020
WE MUST KNOW: Are you learning Remotely or In-Person?
New Start Times and Protocols for School Start and Dismissal Times
- K-6 start time has changed to 9:30 a.m. Students must wait in family vehicles until their allotted time to enter the school. K-6 students may enter the building with masks on between 9:15 and 9:30am. Students in grades 4-6 will enter through the intermediate wing door (near 5th grade room) and students in grades K-3 will enter through the primary wing door (near kindergarten room). K-6 parents may not walk their students to class. Students getting breakfast are to enter the main doors. Bus riders may enter building through designated door above upon bus arrival.
- Pre-K start time is 9:10 a.m. and parents with masks may walk preschool students to class between 8:55 and 9:10am if both students and parents are wearing masks. The school end time remains the same.
- Dismissal protocol has changed a lot. Please see the information below for details. Parents may not come into the foyer to pick up at dismissal time. There is a pick up line for cars at the back of the parking lot and students will be called out the vehicle. Because of these changes, it is VERY important that any changes in after school plans are communicated to the school office BEFORE 3pm.
Protocols for drop-off and pick-up of students:
Arriving Bus Riders:
*All students must be masked on buses, while walking into school, and through the hallways until they get to their classrooms.
*They will exit buses at normal time and go directly to classrooms.
1. Students in grades 4-6 will enter the far door at the end of the intermediate wing. (Staff member (TBD) will be stationed at door for the first week or until students get routine.)
2. Students in grades K-3 will enter the door in the primary wing close to the kindergarten room. (Staff member (TBD) will be stationed at door for the first week or until students get routine.)
3. If a student needs breakfast, they will enter through the main doors. They will grab food and go directly to classrooms. NO OPEN CONTAINERS TAKEN DOWN THE HALL
Parent Drop-Offs:
*All parents and students arriving by car will have to park and remain in cars while they wait for scheduled time to enter the building.
*Parents who need to enter building MUST be masked. They can ONLY enter the front doors to go to the office.
*Students will have a specific schedule to follow. Parents/students must remain in their cars. At the allotted time, students only may enter the school at the following time:
*Pre-K can be dropped off at 8:55-9:10. Parents come through main doors only. Parents MUST be masked when they enter the building. Preschool students will leave at 11;30. Parents will be masked and meet Mrs. Fowler at the main front door to pick up child.
*At 9:15-9:30 a.m., K-6 students can enter the school. Students will enter the school with masks on and go through the following doors:
1. Students in grades 4-6 will enter the far door at the end of the intermediate wing.
2. Students in grades K-3 will enter the door in the primary wing close to the kindergarten room.
3. If a student needs breakfast, they will enter through the main doors. They will grab food and go directly to classrooms. NO OPEN CONTAINERS TAKEN DOWN THE HALL
*All students MUST wear masks while walking into school, in the hallways, and until they exit the building. The reasoning is they will be moving about the school with students from other cohorts.
*Staff “door monitors” will make sure that doors in the intermediate and primary wings are closed (locked) at 9:30 am.
Dismissal Protocols:
*Parents may not make changes after 3 p.m.
*We will have two staff members (one intermediate, one primary) to pick up bus notes from office at 3:20 p.m. to deliver to classrooms. Possibly Joanna for primary and Geoffrey (or para) for intermediate.
*All students (exception 3rd grade students) will remain in their classrooms until called down for the bus, a parent, or Boys and Girls Club.
*All staff MUST have radios on during dismissal.
*We will have three bus duty staff members (Doug Hayman, Lisa Gossett, and Ron Halsey) coordinating inside and outside dismissals. Mr. Hayman will be working the “bus zone”. Mr. Halsey will be working the “parent pick-up zone”. Lisa will run the inside and “bus zone” to ensure students are not congregating and getting to where they need.
* Secretary will assist Lisa with inside dismissal.
* Students will be called down by bus duty staff one bus at a time.
*Parents will remain in cars and drive up through the “pick-up zone”. Ron will then use radio to call for pick-up of student(s). Smaller students will be escorted through to the “pick-up zone” by Mr. Hayman or Ms. Gossett.
Meal Changes - No Money or Free/Reduced Account = No Food
New to the KPBSD this year all PTO Accounts have been deactivated. This means we will not be able to sell students a meal if the balance on their account runs out, and more money will need to be added to the student’s lunch account. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAND OUT SNACKS OR ALTERNATE MEALS FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE RUN OUT OF LUNCH MONEY. Forms are available online to “opt – in” which will allow parents to set up a credit limit for lunch accounts in the event a student runs out of lunch money. Parents who opt – in can allow a student to receive 2 days’ worth of meals after the money on their account is up. Letters or e-mails will be sent out when a student is nearing the end of the balance on their account to help parents stay on top of their child’s account balance.
No In-Person Open House this year
Materials Pick-up and Drop-off
*Materials can be picked-up and dropped off on Fridays between 10-3 p.m.
*Parents who need a different day must make prior arrangements with the teacher.
*Parents must call ahead to inform staff they will be picking up or dropping off materials.
*Materials will be put outside under the covered area. Teachers will label materials with the student’s name. Materials that get dropped off must be labeled with student name and grade. There will be a box or marked area for them to leave materials.
*Parent will be able to drive up to pick up or drop off materials.
Information
Email: DHayman@kpbsd.org
Website: TustumenaElementary.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Location: 58231 Sterling Highway, Kasilof, AK, USA
Phone: 907-260-1345